Over the last decade, few rivalries like Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar have captured the cultural imagination. While it’s never been a beef in the traditional sense, it has been a consistent, high-stakes competition in every major category at the BET Awards—especially Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Album of the Year.

It all started in the early 2010s. Drake was already on the rise, propelled by "Thank Me Later" and "Take Care", dominating the charts and becoming hip hop’s go-to hitmaker. Kendrick’s "good kid, m.A.A.d city" dropped in 2012 and shook the culture. The critical acclaim made it clear—a new voice was in town.

BET caught the energy early. Both artists began to be nominated in overlapping categories by 2013. That year, Kendrick walked away with Album of the Year while Drake snagged Best Collaboration and Viewer’s Choice. It was a split decision that set the tone for future face-offs.

By 2015, the stakes had risen. Kendrick’s "To Pimp a Butterfly" wasn’t just an album—it was a cultural statement. BET gave Kendrick multiple awards, including Album of the Year and Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Drake, while still chart-dominating, began to feel the pressure of critical comparisons.

The next few years were a seesaw. In 2016, Drake won big with "Views", taking home awards thanks to chart-toppers like “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling.” Kendrick fired back with "DAMN." in 2017, a Pulitzer Prize-winning album that swept that year’s BET Awards.

Meanwhile, fans began to keep score. Twitter timelines lit up every time nominations dropped. “Drake has the hits, Kendrick has the message,” became the central debate. But both artists have proven they can do both—and that’s what’s made this rivalry so compelling.

In 2018, Drake’s "Scorpion" battled against Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s "Everything Is Love" while Kendrick focused on soundtrack work like "Black Panther: The Album". That year, neither artist dominated, but the anticipation for their next moves only grew.

The rivalry hit new heights in 2023 and 2024. Drake dropped "For All the Dogs" and its deluxe version, while Kendrick released surprise tracks that shook the internet and claimed his space in rap’s upper echelon again. BET gave both artists nominations in every major hip hop category—Best Collaboration, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Album of the Year.

Now in 2025, Kendrick returns with "GNX", a cerebral, cinematic album, while Drake joins forces with Partynextdoor for "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U". Once again, they’re nominated head-to-head in Album of the Year and Best Male Hip Hop Artist.

It’s not just about wins—it’s about legacy. Drake’s performance stats, Billboard chart dominance, and streaming numbers are almost untouchable. Kendrick, however, consistently earns BET’s respect for his artistic integrity, political commentary, and cultural depth.

Who wins this year? It might not matter. Because when Drake and Kendrick go head-to-head, the culture wins either way.